Automatic filtering apparatus



June 7, 1932; G. DONALDSON AUTOMATIC FILTERING APPARATUS Filed Nov.l l2, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l June l'7, 1932. G. DONALDSON AUTOMATIC FILTERING APPARATUS /N\\1 x///////////// QM.

Filed Nov. l2,

ollwm @mmm mm\ the screen material mounted on the filtering 'the pans, inthe courseof'mo'vement to posi- .45 to provide, in an automatic filtering apparathen more particularly pointed out in the station having an air expelling or an air con- Figure 1- is a vertical sectional elevation Patented June 7, 1932 UNITED STATES VParar oFgFie GEORGE DONALDSON, OF INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA AUTOMATIC FILTERING APPARATUS Application med Novembe 12, i928. serial No. 318,984.

This invention relates to improvements in ducting pipe for sucking air out of the lterfiltering or screening apparatus and has for ing pans or blowing air into the meshes its object to provide a simple, efficient and thereof for cleaningv purposes. .y inexpensive arrangementof this character. .Another obJect of this invention is to pro- One of the objects of this invention is toV vide, 1n an automatic filtering apparatus 55 facilitate thek operation of extracting oil from means whereby the leakage of air'between the volatile and compressible matter by the apcoinciding end walls of the mated and hinged plication of air as the extracting medium. filtering pans, or over the top parts thereof Another object of this invention is to pro- 1s effectively prevented. Y vide a form of filtering apparatus character- A fur-ther object of this invention is to 60 ized by the feature of successive operation of save air from being wastedr especially in the filtering screens and continuous extracclose vicinity of the coinciding end wallsof tion of the oil thru the filtering apparatus. mated pans, iny the provision of mechanism A further object of this invention is to for controlling the exact times of inducing provide means in a filtering device for rapthe suction of air into as Well as stopping vthe idly cleaning thel filtering apparatus before fiow of air out of the several pans. same receives a fresh charge of matter from A further object of this invention is to which oil or other fluid is to be extracted or provide an improved screen body for remove expressed automatically.V able engagement in the filtering pan serving A still further object of this invention is to effectively stretch the filtering material 70 to provide a filtering apparatus designed to or screen upon theV frame thereofl` f provide a rectilinear course of travel for the And a still further object of this invention filtering screens or apparatus to the end that 1s to provide interchangeable, types of valves better control and accessibility of these for admitting air into the air pipes employed 5 screens may be had. either. to suck oil from the material to be lil# 75 Another object of this invention is to pro tered or for blowing air under pressure into vide an endless band to which a plurality of the meshes of the screening or filtering mahingedly mounted filtering pansv areV associterial as may be found necessary ordesirable ated for conjoint movement therewith, means in theV act of cleaning the filtering pans.v being provided for causing the several pans Another'object of this invention is to pro- 80 to come into position opposite a suction apvide controls for the air valves forming part paratus for removing air and therefore oil of this invention, and in mounting these or thelike from the matter deposited upon controls upon the ends of the pans whereby W pan. l tion when suction is to takeplace, or clean- 85 A further object of this invention is to ing'of the screens effected, Will actuate the provide improved mean-s for causing the sevopening and successive closing ofthe valves, eral filtering pans to be Vcleaned and freed the closing of the valves being effected'just from obstructions that may tend to clog the prior to the seamed section ofmated filtering 0 screen surfaces thereof to the end that the pans coming close to the suction pipes. 90 oil extraction mayproceed without hindrance With the above and other objects in view when the suction making function of the de my invention consists vin the combination, vice takes place. arrangement and details ofconstruction dis'- A still further object of this invention is closed inthe drawings and specifications and tus a platform upon which lthe upper and appended claims.l y lower stretches of an endless band are caused In the drawings, wherein similar reference to be guidedV rectilinearly, to come Within Vnumerals indicate similar parts throughout range of a successive seriesof stations, each the appended views,

of various parts of my invention in proper assembly,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of a screen apparatus, partly broken away,

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the screen apparatus,

Figure 4 the screen,

Figure 5 is an end elevation of a filtering pan showing the entrance slot for the screen,

Figure 6 is a fragmental bottomplan view of the screen,

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a platform showing the mounting of a. filtering pan thereupon,

Figure 8 is a fragmental top plan two mated filtering pans,

Figure 9 is a fragmental bottom plan view of the parts shown in Figure 8,

Figure 10 is a fragmental sectional elevais a cross sectional elevation of view of tional view showing two mated filtering pans,

' Figure 11 shows a diagrammatic view of two filtering pans with valve regulating means in neutral position, also showing a View of the movable parts internally of the valve, Y

vFigure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11 but showing the pan valve regulating means aboutV to fully function, thevalve being in process of closing, Y

Figure 13 is another view similar to Figure 11 but showing the filtering pans in a position where the valve is being gradually opened,

Figure 14 is a fragmental end view of the filtering pan showing one type of air valve operated by the pan, this viewshowing a different type o-f valverthan that shown in Figure 11 but in the same position as to its internal parts. y Y Figure 15 is a view similar to Figure 14, showingthe position of valve parts corresponding to the position of the valve parts in Figure 12, Y

Figure 16 is a view of the modified valve showing corresponding positions for its internal parts as is shown in the type of valve disclosed in Figure 13.

' Figure 17 is an end kelevation of a filtering pan Showing in full lines the valve open and M in dotted linesthe same valveclosed.

Figure 18 is alongitudinal sectional view of the platformshowing interchangeable operable valves at the opposing ends thereof,

Figure 19 is a top plan view of the platform to be described and Figure 2O is alongitudinal sectional'view of the platform and filtering pan disclosing in section the valves disclosed in Figure 19.

In the drawings, which are merely illustrative of my invention the various parts of my invention are disclosed. VAn endless band is provided set in motion by means of the gears or sprockets 10 and 11 mounted respectively upon the shafts 12, 12a as is shown plainly in Figure v1. These gears will be secured upon any suitable frame, not shown.

sprocket chain composed of the links 87 is provided for motion upon the sprockets 10 and 11 by means of which the band, composed of these links, is set in motion.

A suitable platform is designed to be sup-- ported by any desirable means in a horizontal plane and it consists of the longitudinal bars or sills 13 and 14 Fig. 19 upon the opposite sides of which are secured the rails 15 and 16 viianked by the pair of confronting upstandytending bars 21 and22 are carried by the underside of each pan'and these bars are slidlably guided upon the tracks Y15 and 16 of the platform being restrained against lateral displacement from the platform by theguide walls 17 andlS of the tracks. Several pans are designed at the same time to be'moved rectilinearly over and upon this platform.

Formed at the opposite sides of the platform, at spaced apart points are the air ports 19 and 20, Figs. 18 and'19, one pair of alining air ports for each pan. The bottom wall of each pan is formed at opposite ends with the air ports 23 and 24 which communicate with the longitudinally extending grooves Fig. 9 fianking the bars 21, 22 of the pans,

25a Vdesignating the surface immediatelyY overlying the said grooves; air ports 31 are cut thru the grooves receiving air from valve.

vand 27 and the end walls 28, 29, the end walls 29 being formed with transverse slots 46 Fig. 5 for the slidable reception of the'screen frames soon to be described. The inner faces besides havingv the botY` rlos of the endv walls 28, 29 Fig.'V 7 are beveled Y for the purpose of clearance; shoulders 28a are formed upon the side and end walls extending at right angles to the main sides and providing grooves for the retaining reception ofthe screen frames soonv to be. described.

It willparticularly be noted that onewall of each filtering pan is formed higher than the otherv side wall and has an integral stem .34 terminating in a laterally projecting nose 331having an under edge disposed at right angles'to this wall for overlapping engagement, as shownin Figure 10, ywith the flat up- Vperfedge of the side wall of the next adjacent and mated filtering pan, so when one filtering pan is closed upon the other this nose will overlap the edge of the adjacent coinciding pan wall and thus bar escape of air from between the seam formed by the coinciding walls of the pans in an upward direction.

The screen frame carrying the filtering or screen material Fig. 2consists of the longitudinal bars 36, 39 and the end bars secured to the side bars designated 37, 38 with an intermediate cross bar for reinforcing purposes and with longitudinally extending spaced apart sills 43 formed with one side perpendicular to the upper edges of the bars and the otherv side inclined with respect tothe perpendicular. The longitudinal bars and end bars have exterior grooves respectively designated in Figure 3 41, and 42 respectively. When now the filtering. cloth 40 of proper meshing capacity is laid across the effective top area of this screen frame Vthe marginal portions thereof may be forced into the grooves, 41, 42 and secured'thereim'after the material shall have been drawn taut, by means of the battens 41a wedged into secure position within these grooves. The spaces 44 intervene between the sills 43 and the walls 36, 39 thru which air may be drawn out or blown in. The several filteringpans are interconnected together hingedly by means of the hinge leaves 31', 32 respectively secured upon the said filtering pans.

Each screen frame will be introduced thru the slot 46 of the particular filtering pan it is reserved for, and will be accommodated under the shoulders 28a of the four walls comprising the pan. The under edges of the longitudinal sills 43 of veach screen frame may be formed with the flutes 47 if desired (shown in Figure 6) for the bettercirculation of air from onev space 38 to another of thefcellularbuilt screen frame. The cells are designated broadly 44. The particular surface of the side wall of each pan designed to be surmounted by the nose projection of an adjacent wall is designated 27.

Means are provided for regulating thesuction thru the several filtering pans. It will be understood that the same platforms function in connection with the lower as well as the upper stretches of the endless band to which the pans are attached.

The platforms are provided with lateral sills 35 as a convenient under support for the same. In order to prevent the escape of air and to conserve the air supply against waste mechanisms are provided to shut the air off at a predetermined time, in the course of rectilinear travel of the several pans beneath the platform. If a suction takes place it will, however, be destroyed when the jointed seams of -mated pans coming within reach of the suction openings of the suction apparatus since if the suction is not stopped considera'- ble air will be consumed needlessly without doing work due to theescape of air around the coinciding edges or faces of the intericonnected pans.

Two interchangeably serviceable types of valve mechanism are disclosed; since there be used on both sides alike. In one type of 8b v valve con-struction two horizontally extending rack bars 48 and 50 depend from'the lower portions of each filtering pan in'the space between the opposing tracks of the platform.

The frame parts 49 secureuthewrack barsV inV proper spaced relation below the bottom Walls of the respective pans, the rack' bar 48 being located `at one end andthe rack bar 50 at the opposite end-of the same pan, the latter rack bar extending in a lower plane than theformer rack bar 48.

Each set of rack bars is designed to engage, control and actuate the valves now to bedescribed, The platform provides virtually a series of separate' stations in conjunction with each of which a rotary gear 62 is provided mounted upon the shaft `61, this stem or shaft 61 being tapped into suction pipes 53 which connect with theports 19, 20, and 31 of the pans. y

`The lower ends of the suction pipes 53 are designated 54 and connect with an airl suction pipe 55 connected to all air pipes. Insidethe suction pipes 53 are disposed restricted ports 58 in walls 56 extending transversely therein for the admission of air thereinto. The stem 61 carries a plug 63 for closing the 'ports 58, and the stem is threaded into the stopper connected laterally to the pipes 53. `Thus when the gear 62 is operated and rotated it turns the threaded stem 6I whichcauses the plug 63 to advance or recede `according to the direction of movement or rotation of this Oear. r

n Nowjvlien the" several filtering pans are set in motion by means'of the endless chain, they move rectilinearly upon the platform in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure The airis to be sucked out of each pan in turn and as there are severalfpans resting upon the full length of-each platform at Vthe same time it will be seen that several. gears 62 arrangedA at the several 4platform stations are to be.v simultaneously operated. In the order of successive operation, in moving in a counterclockwise direction, the pans will cause the rack bars 48 to operatethe valve plugs 63 first to open the suction pipes 53, to cause a suction to take placein the particularpan in question.l This rack-A b'ar148` will mesh` with vrY in Figure 12. It will be seen that the rear end of one pan and the front end of the mated neXt adjacent pan are about to pass over the suction ports of the platform, and as itis desired not to allow air to be drawn out at this Y time, whenthe rack bar 50 doesmesh with thegear 62 the valve plug .63 will' close the valve .port 58 so no air is now sucked. out from p`an.-q1 Y ,v p

This operation is repeatedly carried Vout with the successive pans as several pans are controlling, at the saine time, the opening and pipes. Y2:5

closing of the valve chambers of many air Whenever suction takes place it draws thru the meshes of the filtering cloth on each filtering pan the liquid, oil Aor other volatile matter of the material lodged and resting upon the filtering'cloth. The oil thus extracted passes out of the pipes 54 into and thru the main suction pipes 55 and thence is carried away to some collection receptacle.

Located with air pipesextending downwardly towards the lower stretch ofthe endless band, are gears 62a, controlling valvesof the same general type already described while the pipes 53 are suction pipes to draw off by vacuum the foreign particles that may cl-og or obstruct the meshes of the filtering material. Instead of air sucking thru the filtering pans thru pipes 5361i, the air is vblown thereinto, the air blowing thru the filtering -material and causing the matter clinging thereto to be removed from the material so the material removed in this manner may disappear from the pan and be received in any suitable 'receptacle lodged underneath the lower stretch of the-endless band.

lAnother. type of valve is provided Vfor accomplishing the openingr and closing of the valve mechanism. For this purpose each pan carries a pin 76 projecting from its side wall and on' the platform is located a special valve fitting consisting of elbow 65 having connection with theair ports 19 or 20 or withboth air ports, this elbow connecting with the main valve chamber 67 in which the valve port 68 allows or disallows air to enter thru the valve fitting to the proper ports ofthe panl for air .suctionY The line of travel of the air from Valve chamber is designated 67 and of and into the elbow is designated V66 and thus airV may be blown into. or sucked out of each pan. A disk valve 68 is provided for the purpose of closing the Vvalve port'67 and is carried at 65 the lowerend of a .lever rlfhe disk 68 valve fitting 67, and the lever 69 is fulcrumed 'on a pivot 74 connected to the valve fitting while the free end of this lever is secured rig:- idly by a pin 73 to a cam member having the large cam portion 7 0 and the small cam portion 72, the cam itself being designated 71.

This cam is designed to actuate the valve disk 68 to open or closed position. 'Y Y In operation as the pan moves in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 17, the pin 76 moves along with it in a straight line; at the proper time, when it is necessary to0 open the valve disk 68 to c ause it to moveV vaway from the valve port 67 it'oontrols, the

upon the small cam 7 2V of pin 76 will ride depress this rportion of the cam member 71,

cam'm'ember as shown in Figure 14 to the Y right, thereby tilting the lever 69, moving its upper free end down and the disk carrying end upwardly, thereby uncovering the valve port 67. The neXt time the pin comes into en-v gagement with the samelcam member it engages the large vcam 70 thereof, depresses this cam and` allows the lever to operate to close the air port. This'operation of the valves occurs automatically. When suction takes place in any particular filtering pan the aii` sucked out has a wide surface to pass thru carrying the oil along with it, the various cells of the screen frame allowing free pas* sage of the air and carrying in the wake of this expelled air the oilV or whatever is to be filtered out. l

For loading material upon each pan in succession a hopper is providedV consisting of the hopper 83, havingathroat 84 coinmunie-ating with a discharge spout whose* mouth is variably controlled by a damper 78, Y

do notlimit myself to the exact details of construction herein disclosed but claim all variations falling inV purview of' appended l claims. n', f

' Vhat I desire to claimand secure by Letf ters PatentV iszi Y c i p Y Y 1. A device asdescribedonsisting.of an endless band, means setting said band in motion, a series of straight pansarranged in a connected seriesy upon said band and moving therewith, aVfiXed platform over which a plurality of'pans move rectilinearly progressively, said kpans `and .said platform khaving a series of registerable ports, a suc tion device having outlet pipes connected to the platform ports, screens on the several pans, valvescarriedby saidsuction device,

.and means controlled-by saidpansseverally for opening andcl'osing said -valvesautomatically to time the operation of the suction device.

2. A device as described consisting of an endless band, a series of screen covered, interconnected pans, means causing said pans to travel in unison With said endless band, said pans each having a port, a main pipe disposed betvveen the stretches of the band, pipes connected to said main pipe at spaced apart points, a stationary platform directly 111iderneath having tracks for the individual pans to move rectilinearly, said platform having ports communicating with the interior of the pans and With which the said suction pipes communicate, valves carried by said pipes, and means disposed in pairs for successively operating said valves to open and close the pan ports to bar or permit the passage of fluid therethru.

In Witness whereof he has hereunder set his hand this 29th day of September, 1928.

GEORGE DONALDSON. 

